WESTFIELD — Westfield Although Participated in Mayor Gregory S
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rraa Vol. 17, No. 9 Friday, March 1, 2002 50 cents Around Town perfect companion Boy admits role in sex assault J- S*. Teen faces 5-year term, will testify against pals Champ SCOTCH PLAINS — A high charged with kidnapping. Lucas Francavllia won his school student has admitted Another adolescent, who alleged- second District 11 title with a being pnrt of a group of five boys ly served as a lookout, was 9-1 victory over Weatfleid's who sexually attacked a lH-yenr- released to his family. Lee Tomasso. See story on old Knnwotni girl earlier this win- The Fun wood girl waB Page c-1. ter. approached inside Park Middle Manuel Batista, ll>, of Scutch School in Scotch Plains shortly Plains, pleaded guilty Tuesday in after class ended on Jan. 2, New .Jersey Superior Court in according to the ivlcuse. She was Briefs Elizabeth to a charge of first- dragged into nearby woods off degree aggravated sexual Purk Avenue where she was Kotarians serve up assault. He also agreed to testily attacked by :< 17-yenr-old boy and against his four co-defendants in one other teenager. pancakes Saturday the case. Batista told the court that he WESTFIELD — Westfield Although participated in Mayor Gregory S. McDorniott iiiuneH of juvenile "Today we begin to ful- the assault and has issued a proclamation NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGHAPHEH suspects aro usu- saw the girl declaring next week "Westfield Lee Noste of Scotch Plains shows off the lifelike creation that she calls Jim. ally not made fill our view for a swift being injured. Rotary Scholarship Week." public, Batista is and certain prosecution He added Unit he The Kotary Club of Westfield being identified in a violent crime case saw one of the wilt hold its .T7th ammal as he was facing group being des- "Pancake Day"' as H fund-raiser Scotch Plains' widow's 'Jim' a trial on adult that victimized an entire ignated as a to supj)ort the Rotary charges and his community." lookout. Foundation, fiuiltlin^ the club name wan dis- - Thomas Manahan The girl suf- to continue giving scholarships closed in u press fered injuries to to Weatfield High School stu- is almost too good to be true release issued by Union County her neck, arms dents and current college stu- tyOWlQWUW The most difficult port was finding n mask, the Union Prosecutor and body in the dents from Westfield. The C o u n t y attack, according STAKK WltlTKK she said. But last Halloween, she headed out to Rotary Club of Westfield the stores early and found one at n bargain Pros e c ulor'H to the release. Foundation gives more than SCOTCH PLAINS — Many women say they price. Over the mask went one of her husband's Office, The victim's fninily is "appre- $60,000 each year in .scholar- would like n man who doesn't snore, hog the old wigs and a cap. He faces up to five years in ciative of the efforts of law ships to Westfieid college stu- remote, or leave dirty clothes on the floor. Lee The finishing touches? A Walkman and head- state prison when he is sentenced enforcement mid they support dents. Noste actually made one, phones and a haiut-crocheted Afghan so he looks in June. In exchange for his coop- the sentencing recommendation As in the past, the event will When Noste, 77, goes out for a drive in her like "all the old people in the nursing homes," eration against the others, said we tire seeking," said county take place in the Westfield High Lincoln Town Car, she always has a companion Noste said. Assistant Prosecutor Casey Prosecutor Thomas V. Munnhun, School cafeteria lietween 8 a.m. in the back seat —- a homemade, but lifelike, She regrets that she has yet to finish the Woodruff, he will be sentenced as who met with the victim and hur and 2 p.m. Saturday. The meal dummy she named Mini" after her late husband. arms and hands, but "Jim" proved lifelike a second-degree adult offender family prior to the plea. Members will feature pancakes, eggs, "I like to feel a presence of someone in my cur enough to fool one unwitting resident two weeks when he comes before Superior of the Juvenile .Justice Unit and sausages and fruit I/KUI musi- when 1 go home at night," said Noste, who ago. Court Judge John Malone in (hi! Victim Witness Advocacy cal groups will provide enter- makes regular trips from her .south .Scotch While Noste was at her 9 a.m. aerobics class June. Unit kept the family informed of tainment. A children's fair, bake Plains home to Mountainside und the Jersey at the YMCA on a bitter winter day, another In addition, Matista will not he the. progress with the case. sale and a 50750 drawing will Shore. "1 do like that protection. It's reassuring patron saw "Jim" in the back seal and thought eligible for parole until he is 20 All five suspects wen* arrested also be pnrt of the event. ...everyone thinks he's real." an elderly man had been abandoned. The person and must undergo psychiatric Jan. f> following an investigation Last year, more than 1.200 Noste says she got the idea Tor the dummy reported the situation to the police, and sunn an evaluation at the Adult by Scotch Plains police. Scotch guests attended. Tickets arc from a friend in Mountainside, who has herself officer was on the scene. Diagnostic and Treatment. Plains Detective- Sgt. Brian available from any Rotarian or used a dummy for more 10 year** to make? any Noste explained the. situation, und police Center in Avenel. He also must Mahoney and Detective Jeffrey at the door. ne'er-do-wells believe she was not traveling decided "Jim" is perfectly legal, as long as Noste register with authorities as a sex Uriel were credited with getting alone. stays away from bridges and tunnels and does- offender on his release. detailed evidence during their The two women crafted "Jim" from a couch n't try to sneak into the HOV Ian*'. Three co-defendants, who three-day probe. The Record-Press pillow pinned to a foam headpiece. They dressed So she's free to finish his arms — but she may were? identified in court only by "Today we begin to fulfill our is award-winner him in a button-down shirt with "sort of a Perry have some more work to do. A few members of their initials, remain in the view for a swift and certain pros- Como sweater," and a scarf to make him look the 11 a.m. class have suggested they might like George W. Herlich Detention ecution in a violent crime case The Record-Press won sec "fancy, like Fred Astaire," Noste said. "Jims" of their own. Center in Elizabeth pending fur- that victimized an entire commu- ond place for its front-page ther hearings. They have boon nity," Manahan said. design in the New Jersey Press Association award competition For 2001. The winning pages, designed by Editor Kathleen Phillips, Residents air frustration with teacher pact impasse were from the Sept. 28 and Nov. Board president Donald generated by the negotiation will that l>oth sides have to compro- concerned about the credibility of 9 issues. the parlies to settle and the TIIK HKCOMH'ilKSK Sheldon announced the results of take a long time to repair, she mise. the most recent effort at a meet- said. Board memlwr Thomas Kusso impact that it is having on the SCOTCH PLAINS — There ing of the board on Feb. 21. Jill Marcovich didn't know how said he had "heard nobody sny we town. "Don't bother to buy a was no resolution of the impasse Residents spoke of their frus- residents could rally behind a should settle at any cost." house," she said of the impact on in the teacher contract negotia- trations at the board meeting and budget if there is no contract for "A culture of confrontation has prospective home buyers. "The tions at the second meeting of their hope for a contract settle- teachers. developed," he said. "We must town can't nettle a teacher con- between the parties and a state ment. "This happens every three continue to negotiate a settle- tract." fact finder on Feb. 20. Margaret Ames of Scotch years," she said, "I moved here ment in the lx;st interest of the But Kusso disagreed saying it The Board of Education, Usach- Plains urged the two parties to four years ago and this is the sec- public and that what we're trying is not driving people from the ers' union negotiators and the fact "split the difference" on disputed ond time it's happened. to do." area. He said bin house has dou- finder will meet again March 18. issues and settle. The bad feelings Sheldon responded by saying Susan Street of Fan wood was bled in value. Panamanian tot thrives Scotch Plains, Celebration thanks to local Rotarians Westfield face Mikaela Cruz performs an board contests African dance at the Westfield When Ray and Sue Jajko were The newborn from Panama High School Awareness Club's asked to host a Panamanian was brought to Central Jersey by Four candidates will vie for- infant in need of life-saving heart the Rotarians BO that surgeons three seats on the Westfield Board! tribute to African-American of Education and three hopefuLr culture. See Page B-1. surgery a year and a half ago, could perform on artery transpo- will battle for two seats in Scotch- they admit being a little reluc- sition on his tiny heart.